Dam forming device



* April 2,- 1940.

w. H. SILVER 2,196,038

DAM FORMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 46 /36 M 46 63 as 7 M2 /44 a5 u n AS1093 I: u 65 o D D o o [I D o I I 9/ 90 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April 2, 1940.

W. H. SILVER "DAM FORMING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Z Filed Dec. 8, 1937 Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAM: FORMING, DEVICE Illinois Application December 8, 1937, Serial No. 178,745

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to dam forming attachments for use with listers or like implements, and more particularly to lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the dam forming .2;; attachment between operative and inoperative,

or transport, positions.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a damming device for attachment to a lister of the type comprising a frame sup-- "v ported at the front and rear ends thereof on wheels, the forward wheels being connected to the frame by means of crank arms which are swung downwardly by suitable power lift mechanism, tilting the frame longitudinally about the rear wheels.

Another object is the provision of lifting mechanism for a dam forming device attached to the rear of a lister, whereby angulation of two articulated frame members as the lister is raised, acts to raise the dam forming device.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment. Reference .is had to the appended drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of a two row lister and attached dam forming device embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional View taken along the line 22 of Figure 1, showing the imple ments in ground-engaging position; and

Figure 3 is: a view similar to Figure 2 showing the implements raised in transport position.

Referring now to the drawings, the lister, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 5, comprises a frame 6 including a pair of spaced longitudinal beams I, 8, the forward ends of which are bent downwardly, as at 3, and rigidly interconnected by means of a transverse mem- ,ber l5. A second transverse member ii, disposed to the rear of member 7 ill, is likewise fixed at its ends to the beams l, 8, providing for a rigid structure to which the various tools and supporting wheels may be attached. In the preferred. embodiment shown and described herein, the lister 5 is intended for use with a tractor (not shown) to which the frame 6 is connected by means of a supplemental or draft frame I2. The draft frame l2 consists of two ball members it having links Hi fixed to the rear ends thereof by bolts l5. The links 24 are pivotally connected by pivot bolts It to the ends of the beams l, B for vertical swinging movement. The bail members 13 converge forwardly and are 55? j0ined to form'a single draft tongue I1. A clevis t8 at the forward end of the draft tongue I! provides means for flexibly connecting the draft frame it to the drawbar IQ of the tractor.

Fixed to the rear end of each of the beams l, 8 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a 5 7 bracket member 25). A transverse tool bar 2| of uniform square cross section is supported in the ends of the twobracket members 20 and rigidly fixed thereto, as by welding. Clamped to the tool bar 2i by means of clamps 22 are two lat- 10 erally spaced planters 23, each comprising a downwardly and rearwardly curved tool shank 25, at the lower end of which is carried a furrow opener 26. A bracket, indicated at 3B, which is preferably formed integral with the tool 15 shank 25, supports theplanting mechanism comprising a seed container 35, seedselecting and dropping mechanism 32,- and seed spout 33. The spout 33 drops the seed into the bottom of the furrow directly behind the furrow opener 26 '20 where it is immediately covered with soil by the covering shovels 34 and pressed down by the trailing press Wheels 35. The covering shovels 34 and press WhBeiS 35 are carried on a frame 36 comprising a pair of spaced longitudinal mem- 25 bers' it which are bolted at 4! to the tool shank 25 and are braced by struts 42.

The rear end of the-frame'iifi includes a vertical sleeve 43 in which is journaled a spindle 44. The lower portion' of the spindle 44 is bent rearwardly, as at 30 d5, terminating in an axle housing 46, and the axles 5ti,'upon which the furrow wheels 35 are journaled, are carried in the housing 46. The forward portion of the lister 5 is supported on a pair of lateraily spaced ground wheels 5!, 35 52 which are 'fixedon live axles 53, 54, respectively. The'lister frame 6 is connected to the axles 53, 5% by means of a bail 55 which is journaled for vertical swinging movement in two bracket members 56; the latter being fixed, as by welding, to the tool bar 2| and extending forwardly therefrom. The live axles 53, 54 are journaled in the ends of the bail 55.

Power for driving the seed selecting and dropping mechanisms 32 of the panters 23 is derived 45 from the right ground wheel 52 and 'is transmitted byja sprocket and chain drive, indicated by the reference numeral 60, from the live axle 54 to an intermediate sprocket element, indicated at (it, which is journaled on the transverse portion of the bail 55. A second sprocket and chain drive, indicated by the reference numeral 62, transmits the power back to a seeding mechanism drive shaft 63. I Lifting of the lister 5' is accomplished bymeans 557 of a self-interrupting clutch mechanism 64 of conventional design well known in the art, and adjustable connecting linkage which will be described shortly. As the details of the clutch have no bearing on the present invention, it is deemed sufiicient to state that in general it comprises a continuously rotating driving element 65 which is operatively connected with the live axle 53, a normally non-rotating driven member 66 which is journaled on the axle 53, and means for optionally engaging and automatically disengaging the driving element and driven member after a half revolution. Engagement of the two members is effected by pulling on a trip lever 51 which is pivotally connected to the adjacent arm of the bail 55 and operatively connected with the engaging mechanism disposed within the clutch 64. The driven clutch member 66 includes an inwardly directed sleeve portion 68 which embraces the axle 53, and the inner end of which is provided with a crank arm Ill. Connected at one end to the crank arm Iii by means of a pivot bolt II is a link I2, the other end of which is connected by a pivot bolt I3 to a hand lever I4. The hand lever M is swingably connected to the frame member I by means of a pivot bolt I5 and is held in position by a latch 76 which engages a notched sector 82. A grip lever 8| at the handle end of the hand lever I l controls the latch I6.

Coming now to that portion of the implement with which the present invention is more directly concerned, a darn forming device, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 82, comprising two scraper blade assemblies 83 fixed on opposite ends of a transverse shaft 34, is disposed to the rear of the lister 5 with each of the blade assemblies 83 aligned with its respective planter 23 to operate in the furrow formed thereby. Each blade assembly 83 consists of three blades 85 arranged radially about the shaft 84 at 120 degrees spacing. The sides of the blades 85 are tapered to accommodate the sides of the furrow, while the center portion of the outer edge is relieved, as at 88, to clear the seed planted by the planter 23 and prevent its being disturbed. Adjustable gauging runners 95 are fixed to the back sides of the blades 85 to hold the latter at a constant predetermined working depth. Bracket members 9| connect the blades 85 to a pair of spaced plates 92 which are fixed to the shaft 84.

Connectingthe dam forming device 82 to the lister 5 is a forwardly extending draft beam 93, at the rear portion of which are fixed two rearwardly diverging members 94 braced by a cross member 95. The shaft 84 is journaled in the ends of the members 94. The forward end of the draft beam 93 is pivotally connected by means of a transverse pivot bolt 96 to a link IIJB, providing for vertical swinging movement of the beam 93. The link IE8 is secured by a bolt IGI to a bracket member I82 which is clamped to the tool bar 2|. In the operation of the dam forming device 82, the scraper blade assembly 83 is held against rotation and in operative position, illustrated in Figure 2, as it is drawn through the furrow opened up by the furrow opener 26. The operatively positioned blade 85 engages the sides of the furrow and scrapes soil from the sides thereof until sufficient has been accumulated to form a dam. At this point the blade assembly 83 is released and permitted to rotate, depositing the accumulation of soil across the furrow, while the succeeding balde 85 is swung downwardly and locked into operating position. In the embodiment shown equal distance apart by escapement mechanism actuated by the ground wheel 52 and thereby controlled by the forward movement of the implement over the ground. It has previously been explained that the seeding mechanism shaft 63 is operatively connected to the live axle 54 by means of sprocket and chain drives 60 and 62 and therefore rotates at a speed directly proportional to the speed of rotation of the ground wheel 52. The shaft 63 is employed to actuate the escapement mechanism for the scraper blade assemblies 83, therefore, and driving connection is made through a train of speed reduction gears I83, III-l, I05, and I06 to rotate a cam ID'I which is journaled on the shaft 63. Gear I03 is fixed on the shaft 63; both gears I84, I05 are fixed on a countershaft H0 which is journaled in a bracket III and the driven gear I06 is journaled on the shaft 33 and fixedly connected to the cam I07. The bracket III is journaled on the shaft 63 for support and also connected to the link I00 by means of the pivot bolt 96, the latter connection holding the bracket III against rotation about the shaft 63. A cam follower I08 attached to one end of a rearwardly extending rod H2, engages the cam H11 and with each revolution of the latter is drawn forwardly and then released to drop back to its original position. The rear end of the rod H2 is swingably connected to a link H3 which is pivotally connected at I I4 to the draft beam 93. A second rod H5 is likewise swingably connected to the link H3 and extends rearwardly to a pivotal connection at H6 with a rearwardly inclined detent arm I IT. The latter is swingably connected at I to a stub I2I which projects upwar ly from the end of the draft beam 33. Thus, it will be seen that the reciprocating -movement of the rod II 2 as the attached cam follower is acted upon by the cam I0! is transmitted back to the detent arm II! to swing the latter in a vertical plane.

A roller I22 journaled in the outer end of the detent arm II! bears against the periphery of a circular disk I23 which is fixed on the shaft 84. The disk I23 is notched at three 120 degrees spaced points I24, and when the blade assembly 83 is in operative position, one of the notches I24 is engaged by the roller I22 thus holding the disk I23, shaft 84, and scraper blade assemblies 83 against rotation. When the detent arm II I is swung upwardly under the influence of the cam I01, the roller I22 is disengaged from the notch I24 and the scraper blade assemblies 83 are permitted to rotate. A spring I25 connected at one end by means of a link I26 to the detent arm HT, and at the other end by a link I30 to a stub I3I extending downwardly from the end of the draft beam 93, holds the roller under tension against the disk I23.

It has previously been pointed out that the lister 5 is raised to inoperative or transport position by action of the self-interrupting clutch mechanism 64 on linkage connected to the frame 5, which causes the bail 55 to be swung downwardly and thereby raises the front end of the lister 5 sufliciently high for the planter tools to clear the ground. Obviously this tilting of the frame longitudinally about the rear furrow wheels will not, in itself, raise the dam forming device 82 which is disposed to the rear of the furrow wheels. Therefore, supplementary lifting linkage is required for lifting the dam forming device at the same time that the lister is raised, and to this end a transverse beam I32 has been and described herein, the damsare spaced an provided, upon which is carried lifting mecha nism now to be described. The beam I32 is bowed What I claim as my invention is:

upwardly in the center portion thereof to provide clearance for the draft beam 93 as the latter is swung upwardly, and to the ends of the transverse beam I32 are bolted angle brackets I33 which are fixed to the tops of the vertical sleeves 43. A pair of brackets I34 is spaced symmetrically on either side of the center of the beam I32 and fixed thereto. Secured to the brackets I34 by bolts I36 and extending diagonally forwardly -and downwardly therefrom, are two bracing members I40, I4I which converge on opposite sides of the link member I00 and are fixed thereto by the pivot bolt 96. A transverse rock shaft I42 is journaled in the ends of the bracing members I40, I4I which extend a short distance rear- Wardly of the brackets I34, and fixed to the rock shaft I42 adjacent the members I40, I4I are two rearwardly extending lifting arms I43, I44. Also fixed to the shaft I42 midway between the lifting arms I43, I44 is an upwardly extending crank arm I45, the purpose of which shall be explained later.

Fastened to the outer end of each of the lifting arms I43, I44 by a bolt I46 is a chain I41 which is'connected at its lower end to a transverse bar I50. The latter is fixed to two brackets I5I which are bolted by bolts I52 to the draft beam 93.

Thus, rocking the lifting arms I43, I44 raises or lowers the draft beam 93 and attached dam forming device 82.

In the preferred embodiment shown and described herein the rock shaft I42 is rocked by linkage connecting the draft frame l2 with the crank arm I45, When the lister 5 is raised by tilting the frame 5, the front ends of the beams I, 8 are raised relative to the point of connection of the draft frame I2- to the tractor drawbar I9, causing the draft frame I2 to swing. relatively downwardly about the pivot bolt I6. The resulting angulation between the lister frame 6 and 9 draft frame I2 is translated into reciprocating motion by means of a crank structure, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I53, and is transmitted by a connecting rod I54 to the crank arm I45 to rock the rock shaft I42. The crank structure I53 comprises a pair of members I55 which are connected by the bolts I5 to the draft frame I2 adjacent the links I4, and extend upwardly in converging relation to join on opposite sides of a bracing strut I56. members are joined by a bolt I50 at this point and the two members I55 continue upwardly in parallel relation and spaced apart the thickness of the intervening bracing strut I56. The strut ends of the members I55 and is pivotally con-v nected thereto by a pin bolt I6I. Additional perforations I62 in the end of the connecting rod I54 provide means for adjusting the working depth of the dam forming device 82 by changing the angular position of the crank arm I45 relative to the crank structure I53. The connecting rod I54 is pivotally connected at its rear end to the crank arm I45 by means of a pivot bolt I 63.

By this linkage arrangement, the weight of the dam forming device 83 is made to bear downwardly upon the ground wheels 5I, 52 when the implement'is raised, increasing the traction and thereby improving the operation of the power lift clutch'64 which derives its power from the tractive force of wheel' 5I.' i I l The three,

1. In combination, an implement frame,- ground engaging support means carried on said frame at the rear end thereof, ground wheels disposed at the front end of said frame, means connecting said frame to said ground wheels for vertical movement relative thereto, traction operated power lift means for raising the front end of said frame on said ground wheels and tilting the frame upwardly about said support means as a fulcrum, a supplemental frame member pivotally connected to said implement frame near the front end thereof and adapted to be swung relatively downward as the frame is tilted, a tool holding member connected to said implement frame adjacent the rear end thereof for relative Vertical movement, and lifting means actuated by swinging movement of said supplemental frame member for raising said-' tool holding member. I

2. In combination, an implement frame, ground engaging support means carried on said frame at the rear end thereof, ground wheels disposed at the front end of said frame, means connecting said frame to said ground wheels for vertical movement relative thereto, traction operated power lift means for raising the front end of said frame on said ground wheels and tilting the frame upwardly about said support means as a fulcrum, a supplemental frame member connected to said implement frame for vertical swinging, said supplemental frame member being swung relatively downward as the frame is tilted, a tool holding member connected to said implement frame forrelative vertical swinging, and means responsive to the downward swinging movement of said supplemental frame member for swinging said tool holding member upwardly. I

3. In combination, an implement frame, supporting wheel means journaled on said frame at the rear end thereof, groundwheels disposed at the front end of said frame, means connecting said frame to said ground wheels for vertical movement relative thereto, traction operated power lift means for raising the front end of said frame on said ground wheels and tilting the frame upwardly about said rear supporting wheel means as a fulcrum, a supplemental frame member pivotally connected to said implement frame near the front end thereof and adapted to be swung relatively downward as the frame is tilted, a tool holding member connected to said implement frame adjacent the rear end thereof for relative vertical movement, and lifting means comprising a rock shaft journaled on said implement frame, a lifting arm fixed to said rock shaft, means connecting said lifting arm with said tool holding member, and means responsive to the swinging movement of said supplemental frame member for rocking said rockshaft and thereby raising said tool holding member.

4. In combination with an implement frame having a ground engaging support member disposed near the rear end thereof and a draft member pivotally connected near the front end thereof, a ground working tool fixed to said frame ahead of said support member, a second ground working tool disposed to the rear of said support member, draft means connecting said second ground working tool to said frame for vertical swinging movement, traction operated power lift mechanism for tilting said frame upwardly about said support member as a fulcrumto raise said first named tool out of ground en gaging position, said draft member being swung relatively downward. by the tilting of said frame, lifting means for raising said second tool out of the ground, and means responsive to the downward swinging movement of said draft member for actuating said lifting means.

5.1m combination, an in pl ment frame, a furrow forming tool carried tl 'eon, a rear support wheel journaled on said "ame behind said tool, ground wheels disposed ahead of said tool, means for connecting said to said ground wheels for verti al movement relative thereto, lifting mechanism for raising the front end of said frame on said ground wheels and tilting said frame lon itudinally about said rear support wheel as a fulcrum, draft member pivotally connected near the front end of said frame and adapted to be swung relati ely downv-Jard as the frame is tilted, a ground working tool disposed behind said support wheel, draft means connecting said ground working tool to said frame for vertical mover" at relative thereto and lifting means as dated by swing movement of said first draft member for raising said ground working tool.

5. In combination, implement frame and a furrow forming tool ahead of said tool for l ment, supporting wheels journaled in the ends of said cranlr arms, power lift mechanism for swinging said cranks downwardly to ra front end of said frame about rear wheel as a pivot, a draft member pivotally connected near the front of said f he and adapted to be swung downwardly rclat e to the front end of said frame as the latter lifted, a damning device di nosed behind said rear furrow wheel and adapted to operate in the furrow formed by said tool, a craft frame connecting said dainniing dc 'ice to said frame for vertical swinging move v.int, and g means actuated by swinging move of first named draft member for Lid (lemming device.

7.111 a tractor drawn ironic-men the combination of a frame and a tool carried thereon, a rear furrow jcurnaled on said frame behind sa d tool, crank arms jo naled on said frame ahead of s 1 tool for v tical swinging movement, mporting wheels journaled in the ends of s d l: arms, power lift mechanism for swinging cranks downwardly to raise the front end of said frame about said rear furrow wheel as a. pivot, a draft member pivotally connected near the front end of said frame and adapteo. to be swung downwardly relative to the front end of said frame as the latter is lifted, a lever arm fixed to said draft member, means for connecting said draft member to the tractor, a damnnng device posed behind said rear furrow wheel adapted to operate in the furrow formed by tool, a draft farhe connecting said darnming alcvice to said frame for vertical s'- i movement, and lifting means comprising a rock shaft journaled on said frame, lifting arms fixed to said rock shaft, link means connecting said lifting arms to said damming device, a lever arm fixed to said rock shaft, and link means 0011-.

necting said last named lever arm with said first named lever arm whereby swinging movement of said first named draft member acts to rock said rock shaft.

8. In combination, an implement comprising a generally longitudinal frame supported at the front and rear ends thereof on ground wheels, a ground working tool carried on said frame, an auxiliary tool holding member swingably connected to said frame for vertical movement, a draft member pivotally connected for vertical swinging to the front end of said frame, means for swingably connecting said draft member to a tractor drawbar, the latter being held against appreciable vertical movement, means for raising the front end of said frame on said ground wheels and swinging said draft member upwardly therewith, and link means connecting said draft member with said auxiliary tool holding member whereby the latter is raised by the aforesaid swinging movement of said draft member.

9. In combination, an implement comprising a generally longitudinal frame supported at the front and rear ends thereof on ground wheels, a ground working tool carried on said frame, an auxiliary tool holding member swingably connected to said frame for vertical movement and adapted to operate to the rear of the frame, lifting means carried on said frame and operatively connected with the auxiliary tool holding member to raise the latter, a draft member pivotally connected for vertical swinging to the front end of said frame, means for swingably connecting said draft member to a tractor drawbar, the latter being held against appreciable vertical movement, means for raising the front end of said frame on said ground wheels and swinging said draft member upwardly therewith, and link means connecting said draft member with said lifting means whereby the latter is actuated by the aforesaid swinging movement of said draft member.

10. An implement comprising, in combination, a main frame, a supporting wheel journaled on said frame, ground engaging support means spaced from said sup orting wheel, means connecting said frame w .1 said supporting wheel for vertical movement rela 've thereto, means for raising one end of said frame relative to said supporting wheel, a supplemental frame pivotally connected to said main frame and adapted to swing vertically when the end of said main frame is raised, a tool holding member swingably connected to said main frame, and means responsive to swinging movement of said supplemental frame for swinging said tool holding member.

11. In combination, an implement frame, a supporting wheel journaled on said frame, ground engaging support means spaced longitudinally from said supporting wheel, means connecting said frame with said supporting wheel for relative vertical movement, power lift mechanism actuated by said supporting wheel for raising said frame on said supporting wheel about said support means as a fulcrum, a draft member connected to said frame for vertical swinging, said draft member being swung relatively downward when said frame is raised, a tool holding member connected to said f me for vertical swinging, and means responsive to the downward swinging of said draft member for swinging said tool holding member upwardly.

12. An implement comprising a main frame and a supplemental frame member connected together for vertical swinging movement, a supporting wheel, means connecting said main frame with said supporting wheel for vertical movement relative thereto, means for raising said frame relative to said supporting wheel, said supplemental frame member being swung vertically relative to said frame when the latter is raised, a tool holding structure connected to said main frame for vertical movement relative thereto, and means responsive to the swinging movement of said supplemental frame member for raising said tool holding member.

13. An implement comprising a main frame and a supplemental frame member connected together for vertical swinging movement, a, crank axle journaled on said main frame for vertical swinging, a ground wheel journaled on the end of said crank axle, power lift mechanism for swinging said crank axle downwardly to raise the frame, said supplemental frame member being swung downwardly relative to said frame when the frame is raised, a tool holding structure connected to said main frame for vertical movement relative thereto, and means responsive to the downward swinging movement of said supplemental frame member for raising said tool holding member.

14. In combination, an implement frame, supporting wheel means journaled on said frame at the rear end thereof, a crank arm journaled on said frame adjacent the front end thereof for vertical swinging movement, a ground wheel journaled on the end of said crank arm, traction operated power lift mechanism driven from said ground wheel for swinging said crank arm downwardly to raise the front end of said frame about said rear supporting wheel means as a pivot, a supplemental frame member pivotally connected to said frame near the front end thereof and adapted to be swung relatively I downward as the front end of the frame is lifted,

a tool holding member connected to said frame adjacent the rear end thereof for relative vertical movement, and lifting means actuated by swinging movement of said supplemental frame member for raising said tool holding member.

vertical movement relative: thereto, and means responsive to the angular movement between said supplemental frame member and said main frame when the latter is raised for raising said tool holding member.

16. An implement comprising a main frame and a supplemental frame member connected together for vertical swinging movement, a crank axle journaled on said main frame for vertical swinging, a ground wheel journaled on the end of said crank axle, power lift mechanism for swinging said crank axle downwardly to raise the frame, hitch means adapted to hold the free end of said supplemental frame member against vertical movement when the frame is raised and thereby causing angular movement between the front end of said frame, hitch means connected to said draft member to hold the front end thereof against vertical displacement, a tool holding member connected to said frame for relative vertical movement, and link means connecting said draft member with said tool holding member and responsive to angular movement between the draft member and main frame when the latter is lifted for raising the tool holding member, said link means acting to apply a portion of the weight of the tool holding member downwardly on said ground wheel to increase the traction thereof.

18. An implement comprising a generally fore andv aft extending frame having longitudinally spaced ground engaging support means disposed near the front and rear ends thereof, respectively, a draft member connected with one end of said frame by means providing for free vertical movement relative thereto, an operating tool connected with the other end of the frame for relative vertical movement, means for raising the draft memberend of the frame relative to its respective support member, causing said, draft member to move vertically with respect to the frame, and means responsive to relative movement between the draft member and frame for raising said tool.

WALTER I-I. SILVER. 

